A STOURBRIDGE hospice is trialling an innovative new scheme which aims to improve patient choice for people across the borough nearing the end of their lives.

Mary Stevens Hospice has been selected as one of only six pilot centres across the country to trial a new way of working that aims to give terminally-ill patients more choice about their treatment and care - and chance to spend their final days at home.

The scheme - the Mary Stevens Hospice and Macmillan Specialist Care at Home model, a new partnership between the hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group and Dudley NHS Foundation Trust, aims to support and improve care at home, or other preferred place, for around 313,000 people in the borough affected by cancer and other life-limiting conditions.

The specialist care at home model will be led by a community-based consultant doctor who will ensure teams of doctors, nurses, support workers and other professionals work together to provide flexible and personalised care to patients to ensure that where possible their wishes are adhered to.

Health chiefs also hope the scheme will help to prevent unplanned hospital admissions and see as much medical treatment and support provided in a patient's own home or other preferred place of care.

Stevan Jackson, chief executive at Mary Stevens Hospice, said: “Mary Stevens Hospice is delighted to have been selected as one of six innovation centres that will roll out the Macmillan Specialist Care at Home model nationwide, providing integrated specialist care for those with cancer and other life-shortening illnesses.

“This new partnership will ensure effective and efficient use of scarce resources by recruiting and training more carers and increasing palliative care consultant hours.”

To mark the launch of the new service, the hospice's lottery department has launched a new 'CARing Raffle' offering people chance to win a Vauxhall Corsa plus a host of other prizes donated by borough firms.

Tickets, priced £1, are on sale from all hospice outlets until September 30.

The raffle will be drawn at a celebratory event on Wednesday October 1 at Stourbridge Institute in Market Street. Lottery members, organisations and corporate companies are invited to attend the evening which will include drinks, entertainment, presentations on the work of the hospice and a buffet.

Tickets for the public draw event, priced £6.50 each, and the £1 lottery tickets are available from the Lottery Office on 01384 860011 or by emailing lottery@mshfundraising.co.uk